The subtle villainy of Jerson Ramirez

Cleveland minor league recap for May 8, 2021

Every affiliate that played Friday night won! Perhaps this is a nice balm to being the first team in more than 100 years to get no-hit twice in the same month (credit: Sarah Lang).

Maybe? Maybe not? Up to you. Here’s the action from Around the Corner last night.

Columbus Clippers 10, Louisville Bats 0

Box Score · Clippers improve to 3-1

Bobby Bradley homered. There was much rejoicing.

High on the thrill of mashing, Bradley drew two walks to calm himself.

Every other Clipper with a hit earned multiple led by Owen Miller with three singles. Oscar Mercado and Ernie Clement doubled; Ryan Lavarnway homered.

The Clipshow dazzled on the mound, too. Scott Moss threw four innings of one-hit ball with 4 K and 1 BB. Dalbert Siri tossed two and earned the win, while Anthony Gose, Robert Broom, and DJ Johnson completed the shutout.

It wasn’t without intrigue — Gose walked three and struck out two in a scoreless seventh.

Akron RubberDucks 8, Binghampton Rumble Ponies 3

Box Score · RubberDucks improve to 4-0

Josh Rolette was the lone RubberDuck without a hit in last night’s game. He also struck out three times.

I highlight this because Rolette is a former 39th-round draft pick out of Kansas State (2017). He is still grinding four years and one global pandemic later. One must be a spectacular baseball player in order to strike out three times in a Double-A baseball game.

I’m not sure how many very-late-round picks make it to this level (Brian, help) but I am choosing to celebrate this particular story of grit and determination. May rawhide meet maple soon.

Meanwhile, everybody else raked. Tyler Freeman tripled, Oscar Gonzalez homered and cut down a guy at home plate on a slick assist, and don’t forget to add a third somewhat longer thing in order to kind of wrap up this section nicely since it started so abruptly you idiot.

Finally: Texts which reference lost primary sources make mention of the laws, rulers, and pitchers of the game. Alex Royalty decreed that of two runs allowed he would stand to be credited for just one. The Council evidently agreed; consensus indicates that this is reflected in an inscription that reads “4.0 IP 5H 2R 1ER 2BB 5SO”. However, a new theory presented by The Academy of Bunting Sciences posits that this may simply be an example of grain-dole accounting.

Lake County Captains 6, Lansing Nuttes du Lug 2

Box Score · Captains improve to 3-1

Tanner Burns struck out six and allowed three hits in four shutout innings. Despite three errors behind them in the field three other pitchers combined to limit the Lugnuts to three runs.

Brayan Rocchio drove in two with a walk and a sac fly. All those other schlubs had to record hits in order to drive in runs and Rocchio still led the team.

Real artistry is rare. We must let it flourish.

Lynchburg Hillcats 7, Fredericksburg Nationals 2

Box Score · Hillcats improve to 4-0

Despite falling behind at the outset, the Hillcats rallied and progressively pulled away from the Nationals. Jhonkensy Noel, Julian Escobedo, and Gabriel Rodriguez poked a couple of hits each while Angel Martinez picked up one with two walks.

Meanwhile, Hillcats pitchers performed a “4-3-2” improv set featuring Josh Wolf, Miguel Vinicio, and Jerson Ramirez (respectively and respectfully [presumably]).

It’s an excellent effort that didn’t push too hard at the edges of the form. I do struggle with the last two beats, performed by Jerson Ramirez. He had a duty to allow one hit, one earned run, and walk three in addition to striking out three. His scene partners left that gift on the table for him and he failed to execute. A real pro — TJ Jagodowski comes to mind — could have gotten his ERA up to 3.75 in the process!

Never gonna make a house team with such an appalling lack of bit commitment, kid.

Jerson, would it have killed you to do a little worse for the sake of my neuroses?